Author: Dharam Shourie,
in New York
Publication: Rediff
on Net
Date: September 2, 2000
Angry Hindu, Buddhist,
Jain and Sikh delegates of the World Peace Summit have rejected the interpretation
of some Christian organisations that the United Nations Universal Declaration
of Human Rights gave them the right to unhindered conversions.
At a hurriedly convened
meeting, they adopted a resolution that the Declaration's provisions did
not grant any such right and resolved to present it to the United Nations
and seek clarifications from it.
The resolution was read
out at the closing session of the Summit, but did not form part of the
Declaration issued by it.
Hindu leaders, including
VHP leader Ashok Singhal, said they fully agreed with the Summit's declaration
but had objections to the "misinterpretation" of the provision by some
Christian organisations.
The article of the Declaration
in question says, "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience
and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief,
and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or
private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship
and observance."
The Declaration was adopted
by the General Assembly way back on December 10, 1948.
The resolution adopted
by the Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh delegations says any such provisions
either in the Declaration or any other human rights instruments "do not
mean and cannot be construed to authorising any establishment or individual
to resort to organising proselytisation which has a long history of creating
tension, conflicts, between religious communities and which continue to
impair inter-faith goodwill, tolerance and harmony."
Legal experts from India
and Japan, including noted lawyer L M Singhvi, drafted the resolution which
was adopted at a hurriedly convened meetings of the religious leaders of
these faiths.
Delegates attending the
meeting said Buddhists were particularly agitated over the interpretation
being given by some Christians, pointing out that several Muslim bodies
also opposed it.
Hindu leaders said that
everyone had the right to follow any path or religion and even to change
it. But to lure others to change their religions en masse by giving
incentives was wrong and that is what was being objected to.
Making conversion to
a religion a condition for giving aid to the needy cannot be tolerated,
they said.
Singhal also denied that
VHP or any Hindu organisation was involved in attacks on churches or Christians,
saying these criminal acts were committed by criminals and such incidents
needed to be treated as a law and order problem rather than politicised.
Of the 108 delegates
to the Summit from India, twelve were non-Hindus including four Muslim
and two Christians.
PTI